SE535 vs SM3 - Page 3

Being one of the rare birds who sold my SM3s (too warm in my view, not enough sparkle for my tastes), I can say that the SM3s are hardly the best IEMs out there. Good, sure. Great? Not to me. I sold them and actually enjoy the $160 Fischer Audio DBA-02s more. Could be my tin ears, I guess.

In addition to agreeing with the Macedonian about concensus, I think the use of the word 'best' is bad pratice, especially when talking about transducers. It discourages discussions about preferences and choices and choi and anin FR, and no gear, especially in the portables space, is going to be perfectly flat or accurate. There will be trade-offs made, and sometimes we like colored gear. Too many people come onto the forums wanting to know what's 'best', but that's a uncritical way of looking at things - the 'best' won't help you if it's not what you're looking for.

My opinion is not to get any of those 2. From the um2 perspective, those 2 are more of a sidegrade rather than an upgrade. Im also from singapore, and international shipping is always a big no to me. Its easy to get lost in audio with all the "hype" going around, but forking out 500 more just to improve the sq a tiny bit is not worth it. Trust me, i heard the sm3 myself. I rather get a full cans like hd650 or akg 702 for that pricing. No matter how much they rave about the sm3, it cant beat full cans. Thats reality.

I'm currently using tm5 and while it has both details and soundstage (rediculous imaging by the way), it lacks the vivid and liquid sound of re252, I attribute this to less overall resolution and no bumps in mid range maybe.

My opinion is not to get any of those 2. From the um2 perspective, those 2 are more of a sidegrade rather than an upgrade. Im also from singapore, and international shipping is always a big no to me. Its easy to get lost in audio with all the "hype" going around, but forking out 500 more just to improve the sq a tiny bit is not worth it. Trust me, i heard the sm3 myself. I rather get a full cans like hd650 or akg 702 for that pricing. No matter how much they rave about the sm3, it cant beat full cans. Thats reality.

No, that's your reality.

I don't spicifically disagree with your statements, just in your absolutes.

btw I'm not arguing that audio is wholly subjective and headphones incomparable, I'm just saying that 'best' or absolutes oversimplifies the issue at hand. No headphone is totally dominant over its peers (its peers, not LCD2 vs ibuds), even with the best headphones there are trade offs. Whilst I prefer neutrality no headphone gets completely there, if I had to choose I'd rather have dark highs than sibilant highs... So when comparing headphones, compare sonic characteristics, list them out and talk about them. Then let people make their own informed choices about FR and everything else. Plus, from my experience half the people who say X is better than Y without elaboration are just forcing their sound preferences onto others or are too excited to note a headphone's flaws.

btw I'm not arguing that audio is wholly subjective and headphones incomparable, I'm just saying that 'best' or absolutes oversimplifies the issue at hand. No headphone is totally dominant over its peers (its peers, not LCD2 vs ibuds), even with the best headphones there are trade offs. Whilst I prefer neutrality no headphone gets completely there, if I had to choose I'd rather have dark highs than sibilant highs... So when comparing headphones, compare sonic characteristics, list them out and talk about them. Then let people make their own informed choices about FR and everything else. Plus, from my experience half the people who say X is better than Y without elaboration are just forcing their sound preferences onto others or are too excited to note a headphone's flaws.

I think there's an established consensus around here that the SM3 is pretty much the best universal IEM out right now. I've yet to run across a negative review of them, despite running into many negative reviews for the 530 (535 has the same SQ).

Maybe, maybe not. And if it is, does that detract from it's qualities... assuming it has them? The M50 has been called an FOTM for a long time... long enough to withstand the passing of many many months (years, actually). The SM3 is a very good IEM. I'm testing it now and I'll know much more about them soon. But while they might be a possible FOTM, its current popularity - curiosity quotient does not take away its merits.

Can't wait for your impessions. Too bad you don't have a JH5 to add to the mix. I don't understand why posters keep repeating that the 530 and 535 are the same after those that have had both prefer the new model for its better highs and balance.

Can't wait for your impessions. Too bad you don't have a JH5 to add to the mix. I don't understand why posters keep repeating that the 530 and 535 are the same after those that have had both prefer the new model for its better highs and balance.

I am using both JH5 and SE535. They both share a balanced, slightly warm and forward sound signature, but 535 has more warmth. However, JH5 has a slightly wider soundstage, a little more details and better bass thanks to its custom shell.

What really surprised me is the isolation of SE535. The isolation of SE535 isn't worse than the custom shell.